Klitschko: Mobilize Everyone across Ukraine

Former heavyweight boxing champion, and now opposition leader, Vitali Klitschko, has called on pro-EU demonstrators in Ukraine's capital Kiev not to give up control of the central square. Photo EPA/BGNES

As Ukraine protestors remain in a stand-off over the EU deal, opposition leader Vitali Klitschko - a former world boxing champion - urged supporters not to give up control of central Kiev.

"We must mobilise everyone across the country and not lose the initiative," he said.

Protests started more than a week ago after President Yanukovych suspended preparations for signing an EU association agreement that would have opened borders to goods and set the stage for an easing of travel restrictions.

Yanukovych argued that Ukraine could not afford to sacrifice trade with Russia, which opposed the deal.